A/N):Next part! And I know what u gyz r thinking. Connor gets hit by car, he's fine. Sum demon grabs him, he's hurting. Well... the demon was REALLY strong hahahahahhaaa. Yeah. And little CRY-CONNOR is that way 4 a reason. I hafta make him sorta weak kuz, not only 4 Angel 2 finally show sum caring fatherlyness, but kuz the "stuff" that makes him Connor is locked away until...well, later. Heeheeeee. He comes back, no worries.
This chapter is dedikated 2 my buddy KEVIN, who stayed up for way more than a day with me when I dared him 2. I was spose 2 dedikate the next chapter of Precious Destrustion 2 him, but I'll prolly 4get, so this chap's 2 him XP Now for some thankyous-
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THE DARKEST STAR by the DEPECHE MODE
Oh You Sad One- Playing The Angel
Isn't So Easy Where You're From
Oh You Wild One- Devil's Companion
You Won't Stay Satisfied For Long
I Don't Want You To Change Anything You Do
I Don't Want You To Be Someone Else For Me
Oh You Dark One- Eternal Outsider
Caught In The Spider's Web You've Spun
Oh You Blind One- Gentle And Kind One
Seeing The World As A Loaded Gun
I Don't Want You To Change Anything You Do
I Don't Want You To Be Someone Else For Me
Stay As You Are
The Darkest Star
Shine In For Me
Majestically
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Connor pulled away at hearing those words, face contorting in pain as his shoulder moved, but not caring as he glared up at his father, almost lividly. "How can you say that?" His voice was hard.
"Connor, I-"
"How can you say that!" Angel tried to reach forward to gather the boy back into his arms, but Connor only pulled away further, fists clenched in anger. "Youre my family, not them! You are!" He yelled.
"Connor, no, thats not what-!"
But the boy ignored him, shaking his head as if driving his father's frantic pleas out, and stared down at the sterile sheets gripped tightly in his hands. "You...You just want to get rid of me." His voice trembled with hurt as the tears finally dropped free, dripping onto the bed.
"Connor, no!"
"Youre lying!" Connor screamed, eyes rimmed with red and pain and tears still pouring free. Angel looked on, helpless and almost terrified, as Connor nimbly jumped up from the bed and backed away slowly, face distorting with fear and dejection, as he moved closer and closer to the wall behind him. "Youre lying like everybody else does! You promised me! You promised we could start over! Now...Now you just want to leave me!"
After hearing this, Angel couldnt take it anymore. He flew off the bed and rounded on the shaking boy, trapping him against the wall with an arm placed on either side of his son's head. "Hey," he whispered, trying to soothe the hysterical Connor. "Hey! Whats bringing this on, huh?" He looked worriedly into his son's eyes, tears forming in his own as he saw all the suffering his son was going through. "Whats making you think these things?"
"You-Youre gonna leave me..."
Angel stared down at him in shock. "No, Connor, no, I wont! I love-"
"No you dont! You keep saying that but you dont!"
The vampire just gaped at him, letting the words sink in, before he closed his dark eyes, head nodding solemnly. "...Youre right."
Connor instantly let out a sob, his legs buckling. No...no! He continued to sob as he fell, stomach feeling as if it was crashing down with him, but strong arms wrapped around him once again.
"No, Connor," Angel murmurred to him, voice muffled by Connor's hair. The immortal kissed the teen in his arms, then lifted the boy's head, trying to catch his gaze. Connor continued to sob, not allowing their eyes to meet, his body shuddering with each breath. "This isnt love. This transcends love." He was relieved to see his words take effect. Connor hesitantly looked up, his eyes widening in shock.
"Wh-What?"
Angel instantly shifted his stance and placed one arm under his son's knees, hefting him easily and without resistance into the air, before turning and gently laying the trembling lad onto the bed, sitting down himself. "Connor, listen to me." He took the boy's face in his hands, speaking fiercely and urgently. "I have loved many people in my time. I have loved someone so deeply Ive ached, and so greatly I did everything possible to stay with them. Now if that was love," Connor turned away from the man, now hiding his face in shame. "Connor, look at me. If that was love, then...this transcends it. What we have is something stronger. Nothing in this world or the ones beyond it can ever think to outrival what I feel for you. Its not even possible."
The vampire gave a small smile as the boy's sobs slowly diminished. He lovingly stroked the boy's cheek, making the tear tracks disappear with his touches. "Youre my heart and my soul and my love and the epitome of all things good that Ive seen in this world. Youre my son. Maybe this is the feeling all fathers have for their children, I wouldnt know, because youre my first and only and last child. But I do know this: youre the most important...no, youre the only important thing in my life. Nothing will change that. And if something or someone tries to take you away from me..." He let that sentence trail, not even wanting to imagine something like that happening again.
Or what he'd do if it ever came down to it.
"Then why?" Connor questioned quietly, his voice breaking with emotion. "Why do you want to send me back?"
"Because, son, I need to protect you-"
"You dont think I can take care of myself." It was a statement, and realization dawned through the boy as he made it. Angel continued to look down at him somberly. "I can, Angel! That was just one time. He caught me by surprise is all! Look, Im sorry I didnt go back to the room. I knew where it was, I could have easily found it, but I didnt want to and Im sorry. Its just...Its just...I wanted to be with you. Near you-"
"-I know, Connor, I know."
"It wont happen again," Connor promised quietly and seriously. "Just please, let me-"
But Angel silenced him with a finger to his lips. "Dont. Anything you ask of me I will grant to you, but you cant ask me that. Its not fair. We'll work something out." Angel sighed, looking down in thought. Christmas was coming up soon and close after would be Connor's birthday. "Like I said, maybe weekends, but only at the Hyperion." He looked up. "Not here."
"I can take care of myself." Sadness was quickly replaced with stony indignation.
"I know you can, but its not your job. Its mine. Im your father." Angel grinned down proudly at his son, trying to stow away the uneasiness of returning his son to a man and his family the vampire didnt really much care for.
Connor tilted his head up curiously at his dad. He knew he couldnt win the arguement. Once Angel had decided something, there was no way of moving him onto another option. Connor didnt want to remember the other "family" of his. Somewhere deep down, maybe due to his falsified memories, he really did consider Emily a sort-of mother figure and if he was to return at all, itd be because of her, but Darla was his real mother. She wanted him to stay with Angel. And Connor wanted to stay with Angel.
But Emily...
Connor was torn, and he knew which feeling was stronger. But if he did what Angel told him, he would get to see both of them, even if he did want to be with Angel more.
"You'll...work out a deal?" His tone came out harsh as if not believing, and he didnt, really. There was no way Dormon would make a deal with the vampire, but if Angel finally realized that, maybe he would find an alternative.
Angel gazed down at him, face set but looking relieved. "Yeah."
"...Ok."
Connor turned away for a second, still resting on the bed, then looked back up at his father, suddenly grinning, face glowing. "Transcends love, huh?"
And the vampire smiled softly in turn. "Yeah."
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After a few hours of rest, having fallen asleep easily in the infirmary together, they awoke at sundown and, after grabbing Gunn along for the ride back to Connor's area, clambered silently into the limo waiting out front of the firm. Connor almost immediately took to a corner, somewhat sulking while staring out the tinted window, dressed in nothing but jeans and a dark blue jacket that Gunn had bought earlier.
The dark-skinned man glanced between father and son, frowning. "Ok, anybody gonna fill the black man in on whats wrong with you guys?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Angel just sighed, looking over at his son or rather, his son's back. "Connor we talked about this."
"I know," was the quiet response. "I just..." He didnt know how to put it into words. Ever since he had woken up and followed his father closely around as the man informed the others as to where they were going, he had had a sort of meloncoly feeling. That was probably the last day and night he would see his father as head CEO of Wolfram & Hart. Connor didnt like the building at all but there was just something making him feel that way. He didnt understand it. So he had chosen moping, but even that was giving the vampire the wrong idea.
He suddenly remembered something. "Hey, can I see your phone? Actually," he quickly turned to Gunn. "Let me see your phone." Gunn handed the device over easily as Angel frowned. Connor took no notice and dialed his house number.
"Hi uhh Mom...Yeah, Im ok...With friends. We're going to uhh get food...Yeah, I went. The classes were easy today...No, tomorrow is the last day. Half day...Um I spent the night at my friend's house...I know..." He turned away, looking out the window again, not wanting to see his father's eyes as he surely listened in. "Yeah, I'll be home tonight...Is he there?...Ok, I'll probably be there when you get back...Ok, I have to talk to you about something umm later...Yeah, ok, bye." As he gave Gunn back his phone, he noticed the immortal giving him the look and readied himself for what was to come.
"School," the man muttered weakly. "I forgot about that." He then crossed his jacketed arms over his broad chest while raising a dark eyebrow, that look still on his face as if he had been duped out of winning a great race.
Connor just shrugged, not really caring. "Yeah, I know. I skipped. Its just one day, not even that. These two last days are only half-days and they dont matter, really. Christmas break starts after tomorrow."
"And you are going tomorrow, right?"
Connor nodded, looking away again, tone neutral. "Yeah."
Gunn was quiet as Angel leaned back into the lavish, leather seats, face contemplative, but then the vampire suddenly smiled. "Well, then you need new clothes. I owe you ten new shirts, remember?"
Connor grinned finally. "Eleven, actually," he corrected, laughing as his father's eyes narrowed teasingly.
Angel flipped open the seat intercom and told the driver directions to the closest mall. Gunn just stared at the duo, shocked. "Are you really gonna buy the kid eleven shirts?"
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They pulled up into the garage and walked into the mall, Angel slinging a comforting arm around his boy's shoulders and dragging him closer as the boy rolled his eyes, but didnt protest. Gunn just smiled, lagging behind. They walked casually, surveying all the brightly lit stores on their sides.
"Ok, where first?" Angel asked.
"Food," was Gunn's instant reply as Connor stayed silent, looking at a few cell phones in a shop window. Everybody had one now, except the Riley's. He idly wondered why. Angel followed the kid's gaze, then took his arm, and practically hauled him in, much to Connor's surprise.
"I-I didnt say anything!"
"You didnt have to," Angel grinned.
Half an hour later, they all walked out, Connor producing one of the latest Verizon phones with digital video recording. But he looked ashamed. "It cost alot..."
"I know."
"You...didnt have to..."
"I know. But I wanted to." Angel smiled down at him. "Think of it as part one of sixteen birthdays and Christmasses that I missed." He further dragged his boy around, checking out other stores as Gunn jumped from one stand to the next, buying really odd and random things for himself.
"Whew! A day out of the office! I needed this!" Gunn beamed happily, proudly holding up his items.
"Ok, now what?"
"Food."
"Gunn, if you need something, just go-"
"-Actually," Connor interrupted quietly as they both looked at him, "Im kinda hungry too..." His belly rumbled to confirm it. Angel stared at him almost in disbelief. Thats right! He hadnt seen the boy eat all day! What the hell was he thinking? Of course his kid needed food.
Gunn could practically see the man berating himself silently in his head. He frowned. "Angel, look, its kool, man. How bout I get him some food and we meet you back here in about an hour? That way you can do what you need to do."
"But I don-"
"-Ahem." Gunn cleared his throat loudly, head indicating towards the Christmas tree behind them. After a second, Angel finally relaxed and smiled thankfully.
"Oh, right, right." He smiled down at his son as the boy looked up at him, curiously. "Clothes, right?" Connor nodded. "Anything I should look for?"
Gunn grinned, taking ahold of the boy by the shoulders.
"Dark colors. And no flannel." Connor grinned also. "Emily keeps getting me flannel."
Angel mussed up his hair, laughing. "Ok." He gave Gunn a look, which the ex-gang member understood completely as they waltzed off. Angel watched their backs until he, too, walked away, in search of presents.
But what did his son want that he didnt already have?
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"So uhhhh..." They had finally gotten to the foodcourt and were scoping out the different types of food as Gunn tried to make small-talk with the kid. "Christmas is coming up and..." Connor only nodded, not looking at him. He didnt know too much about Gunn and had always thought the older guy never liked him. Even when neither of them had their memories back, he had still noticed the black man giving him wary looks here and there. But he seemed friendlier now. "And," Gunn continued, scratching the top of his head. "Well, I need to get you something. Ok, not need- I want to get you something...Uhhhhh..." He stumbled over his words as Connor stared up at him then sighed.
"You guys are making too much of a big deal over this. Just get me a card and I'll be happy. I ...already have everything I want."
"Well, just name off some stuff you like and dont have. Youre getting a present, kid, one way or another-"
"-Chik-Fila," Connor said suddenly, looking at the people passing by them.
"What?"
The boy faced him. "Buy me food from Chik-Fila and I'll consider it a present."
Gunn growled, growing frustrated. "Look, then just tell me what you already have. Um PS2?" Connor looked back at the food places and nodded. "Gamecube?" Another nod. "XBOX?" Nod. "The new XBOX?" Nod. Gunn thought for a second. "Ooh, I got it. A PSP! Do you have one of those?" If he did, Gunn would envy whatever childhood the kid got faked with.
But Connor paused then shook his head.
"Ok, no PSP. How about...a laptop?"
"Dont get online."
"Stereo? Some cds?"
"Yeah. And I listen to the radio."
"Ok, sports stuff? What do you play?"
"Nothing."
"Kool TV? DVD player?" Connor nodded again- yeah, he had them. "Uh a bike? Wait, youre sixteen, you'd want a car..."
"No, I like walking." He dug into his pockets and found some money. He was too hungry to wait for Gunn to stop babbling. "Hey, Im gonna eat now, you want anythi-"
"-Wait, wait. Here." Gunn handed over a $50. "Merry Christmas," he sighed. "You have everything so there you go." He shook his head as Connor took off towards Chik-Fila, then flipped open his cell, dialing Daddy's number.
"Yeah?"
"Angel, man, your kid has everything. They sure do spoil him rotten dont they? I seriously pity your big champion butt."
"Great," he heard the vampire sigh, defeated. "Then what am I gonna get him that he already doesnt own?"
"Well, he has everything but a PSP."
"PSP? Whats that?" Now he sounded eagerly happy.
"Its like a kool version of a gameboy. Just walk into EB Games, ask for it, and they'll show you."
"Ok, thanks Gunn."
"No pro-"
"-He's not anywhere near you, is he?" Angel interrupted almost urgently. "I mean...dont let him get too far but he's not within earshot is he?"
"No, he's ordering food. Wh- Oh!" He quickly looked to the boy, suddenly remembering their time on the beach. Angel's kid took after him in alot of ways, including amazing vampire-like hearing. Maybe even better than Angel himself.
"Yeah," Angel confirmed. "He didnt hear us did he?" Gunn looked to the kid, noticing him still standing silently in line.
"Naw, doesnt look like it. We're good." From in line, Connor rolled his eyes. "Hey, we're gonna eat now. Remember, PSP. And games that go with it. Bye."
Gunn bought his own food, they ate quietly, then got up after a while in search of the vampire. But as the hour was over, Angel still hadnt shown up at their meeting spot. Gunn was about to flip open his phone again, but Connor stopped him, pointing at a department store across from them. "He's in there."
"How do you know that?" Connor only shrugged, taking the lead. "Well, wait for me."
They wandered through the stores isles and stands before Gunn spoke up again. "Ok, so where is he?"
Connor shrugged again. "Somewhere in here."
"But how do you know that?"
"I can...sense him."
"Well, cant you sense him anywhere closer?"
"It doesnt work that way," the boy replied slowly. "I just know he's here."
"Fine, then Im calling him," Gunn sighed, tiredly, but Connor stopped him once again, this time grinning.
"Wait, I got a better idea," he laughed.
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Angel walked back into the department store looking quite proud of himself, holiday presents, most of them for Connor, tucked away safely in the trunk of the limo parked outside. He made his way through the isles, scanning the racks of clothes for things his son might like. Dark colors and no flannel- those were the only guidelines he had to work with. Connor never liked to wear short-sleeves, it being too cold out anyways for that type, but Angel now finally had a general idea of what to buy.
He grabbed five different types of long-sleeved shirts, hoping they were the right size, grabbed another jacket, three pairs of dark blue jeans, and a belt just in case. He'd get Connor to pick out his own shoes if he needed them. The vampire hauled over his items to a register and waited somewhat patiently as the intercom sounded overhead.
But the voice was what he noticed first, blaring loudly through the department.
"Yeah, would a somewhat melodramatic guy with funny hair, fearing the sun, and lost in the...uhhh cereal aisle, please come and retrieve your party at the...Uhhhh where is this? Cosmetics? Why the heck did you want to go to cosmetics?"
Angel just shook his head, sighing loudly. He definately took after his father, Angel thought, looking almost rueful. From the lean figure to the sarcastic attitude, however, Connor seemed to be adding more quirkiness to it. The vampire payed for the items and lifted the bags, now in search of his offspring and employee. He found the two right away, one bent over laughing and the other just looking back at him calmly with a slight smirk.
He stared down at his son and gave a mock glare, dropping the bags and folding his arms over his chest, silent. Connor mimicked the act, but looked slightly haughty.
Gunn straightened, staring between the two. "Hey, now we know it definately runs in the family. Let the brooding war begin!"
Father and son still stared at each other, willing the other to break, until Angel sighed and unfolded his arms, pouting.
"You really think Im melodramatic?"
"Why yes," a new gruffer voice rang out. "I think we all do. After all," NorthNod inclined his head. "On that one word alone, I was able to track you down here. I hate malls. Too many vampires." He suddenly smiled evilly as the immortal instantly recognized him. "Hello, by the way."
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Angel looked back at the creature in shock, then glanced around at all the people walking past as if nothing was out of the ordinary. He noticed Gunn tense from his left, moving foreward, and Connor moving to the front of his father from the right. He put a hand out to stop that, not wanting the boy between them. Connor looked to the hand on his chest then up at his father, eyes scrunched up and curious.
Angel continued to look at the creature in front of him, a small troupe of what looked to be half-breeds flanking both sides. He counted six, two on either side and two behind. He looked back to the demon, warily. He didnt want to fight in public unless he had to.
No, he wanted to avoid all fights if possible. He needed to protect Connor. That was his main priority. "NorthNod. Youre...alive."
"Glad you remember me. And yes, Im alive."
"Well who could forget a mug like yours," Gunn shot out, looking disgusted, as he studied the man top to bottom. "You are one ugly ass mother fucker. Just look at you. I mean, damn! What do you do, kill people and slap their skin over your body? You need some lotion or...or something!"
"Guuuunnnn," Angel warned quietly, smiling at NorthNod nervously as the demon crossed his arms over his chest, looking perturbed. "We dont need to cause any problems now. And thats how they all look. He's a flesh-eating Norsadic demon from France."
"Ah, we prefer Norsadic City Dweller, thank you," NorthNod corrected with pursed lips. "And there's really no "we" left anyways." He nodded towards Angel. "You took care of that, didnt you? You killed my brothers and most of my people."
Angel just shrugged, purposely pushing Connor behind him now, who looked annoyed at that action. "Yeah, well what do you expect? 'Flesh-eating' remember? You lived up to that name. And you were starting a ridiculous crusade all over France."
Connor stared at the creature from behind his father, noticing the light blue skin. "If he's a flesh-eater, why does he have flesh himself? I thought they all had like rock skin or something."
Gunn suddenly reached towards a clothes rack and broke off a silver squared bar, swung it like a baseball bat once, then ran forward, smacking the demon alongside the head. But the bar only clanged loudly as if hitting a brick wall. Gunn stared up in amazement as Connor nodded to himself, satisfied. "OK, that answers it."
NorthNod smacked the burly black man away, both sets of guards on his sides not moving. They were good generals and they stuck on to his every word. "I have no intention of fighting you, Angel," he replied calmly.
Angel stared back, surprised. "Really? Well its good to see you and all, but...why are you here?" He still stared around him, nervously. People were now crowding around, eagerly awaiting a fight. Couldnt they see this was an actual real demon in front of them, the vampire wondered.
NorthNod thought for a second. "Well, thats not really true. I have no intention of fighting you, but this a matter of vengeance." Angel only looked to him, confused, until his eyes widened in understanding
And horror.
NorthNod indicated to their target, nodding his head at his men. "Get the boy. Dont kill the vampire. But you can do whatever you want to the brown one."
"Gunn!" Angel screamed, already punching the first black suited demon trying to rush past him. "Get Connor out of here! Now!"
"No! I can fight!" Connor yelled, sounding angry, but Angel pushed him back again, this time with more force, and screamed to Gunn again.
"Gunn! Now!"
But the ex-gang member was holding his own against three of them. "I cant leave you, Angel! You cant take them all on your own!" He clubbed one over the head and started bashing the other two back and forth.
Angel finally knocked out one of the three he was fighting and grabbed a similar weapon like Gunn's. He gave a frustrated growl as he saw his kid start to run forward to fight, grabbed the boy by the back of his jacket collar roughly, and threw him behind him again, noticing with a slight grimace as Connor smacked up against a white counter, wincing. "Stay behind me!"
"I can help you!"
"No you cant!" He turned back to the two he was fighting and suddenly vamped out, but thats when all hell broke loose. People screamed now at seeing the vampire and tried to run past, trying to get away, but only ended up getting into the confusion. NorthNod carelessly threw people to the side as he watched the scene unfold. The vampire was now taking on three again, Gunn busying himself with just one that refused to go down lightly, and two demons had been practically vanquished all together. He then watched the boy. A vampire's son. Who would have thought?
Angel was currently throwing two demons together infront of him, satisfied as he heard their heads PLUNK together and their bodies crash to the floor, looking dissoriented, but he was caught off guard as one from behind decked him and threw him forward. Vampires were so much easier to kill, he thought in a daze, as he slid along the smooth tiled floor.
NorthNod was still watching the boy, now interested. At seeing his father easily slugged from behind, the boy had leaped up onto the white countertop then down, landing on the other side, and slammed his shoulder against the brightly lit mirror on the cosmetic wall. The mirror came down with a crash, raining down on him, but he shook it off, locating the biggest and sharpest slab of glass he could, and positioning it. He looked to the demon that had hit his father, standing smugly now over the dazed vampire. And threw. The glass easily sliced into the creature's neck, almost severing off his head completely. Green goo poured out and he fell to the floor, dead.
Connor grinned suddenly. He remembered times like these- demon hunting with his father, Angel. He found another large piece and threw it, hearing a scream of pain come from the demon Gunn had been fighting. Now Gunn and his father were splitting off the last two, fighting one each, as Connor jumped back over the counter, dodging people that were running into him screaming hysterically. His dad and Gunn looked busy so that only left one thing. He grinned again, heading for NorthNod, who eerily smiled back, waiting.
"Your looks are almost the same. You are like your father yet you are not."
"Yeah, Ive been told Im more like my mother personality-wise. Psychotic." Connor lost his grin, moving forward again, staring up at the Norsadic demon.
"Interesting." And then NorthNod struck, delivering blow after blow, amazed when the kid blocked each of them then gripped the demon by his coat collar and threw him in the air. NorthNod crashed down on a bench of sweaters that was quickly reduced to a pile of wood chips.
"Youre gonna lose," Connor growled out as he walked towards him, but the demon made a swift flick of his wrist and Connor cried out in pain, wincing more on the fact it came out shriller than he imagined. He heard his father scream his name but ignored him as he looked over at the wood chunk embedded in his left shoulder, clenching his teeth in pain as he pulled it out. The chunk was almost the size of a stake!
"Glass is not the only thing that can hurt someone, boy, wood too, if not worse. Your father would know all about that," NorthNod laughed as he stood up. "Now where were we?" Connor launched himself at him, punching the creature square in the face, and NorthNod reciprocated that action, punching back as Connor went flying. The demon wiped away blood, startled. The kid's punch alone was almost a killing blow! Connor easily jumped back up and ran at him, but was suddenly caught almost in mid-air and thrown back, landing painfully on the floor. He stared up, outraged, at his father, who stood glowering at the demon, game-face still in place and giving a deadly stare.
"Dont touch my son. This is between you and me, NorthNod," he said dangerously, chest heaving.
"Not anymore, Angel. This is purely revenge. I want the boy. There is no fight between us."
"There is if you even look at him." Angel was about to pull back and swing until he saw Connor rise unsteadily to his feet. "No, Connor, stay down!" So NorthNod swung first, watching amused as the vampire was easily thrown to the side with a snarl. He then turned his grin to the boy.
Connor, who was clutching his bloodied shoulder, clenched his other fist in anger and started towards the demon again, before being grabbed from behind. He turned accusing eyes to his captor. "Gunn, let me go!"
"No can do, kiddy," Gunn shook his head, chest slashed and leaking blood. "Your dad will have my head-" He was suddenly punched in his ear, elliciting a sharp cry of pain. NorthNod appeared beside them as Connor dropped out of Gunn's arms only to be picked up roughly by the demon. One hand was around his neck while another was putting pressure on his wounded shoulder. He let out a strangled scream as more blood poured freely from his body.
"This is purely revenge," the demon repeated, smiling, feeling satisfied. He tightened his grip as the boy's eyes bulged and one hand clawed at the digits around his neck while the other hand clenched, forming a fist. And swung. NorthNod's head spun around in surprise, but he still held his grip. This child was probably one of the strongest and most stubborn foes he had ever encountered, he thought, amazed. He stared wide-eyed at the boy in his grip as the kid's face turned bright red from lack of oxygen. He was probably even stronger than Angel!
At the rememberance of the boy's father, he gulped nervously, shocked he had forgotten.
Because he had only hit the vampire once. He turned away from the gasping boy and searched the floor frantically, but only saw the moaning black man.
Until he felt the shadow.
And heard the homicidal snarl.
NorthNod stared back into the boy's wide eyes and knew- he could almost see the vampire in the reflection of the boy's bright blue eyes. "Oh shit," he cursed, seeing his own demise, before his vocal cords broke, his own head being snapped clear off his body. The rest of his figure slumped, dead, the hands falling loosely from around their previous captive's neck.
Connor also fell to the floor, gasping, rubbing his sore throat. But then, just as suddenly, he was lifted and enfolded into strong arms, his father crushing him to his chest tightly.
"Dont you ever...Dont you ever do that to me again," he whispered vehemently, his words soaking up all his emotions. "Im not losing you. I'll destroy this whole world before I lose you."
Connor accepted the embrace, closing his eyes, forgetting about his pride being hurt along with his shoulder for the moment.
Angel tightened his hold, gratefully overloading his senses with just Connor and content that the boy was in his arms safe again, until he felt the smaller body wince within his hold, concern flashing instantly in his eyes as he pulled back and looked down, noticing the wound. He gasped in shock and pulled off the jacket, trying to see the wound better, much to Connor's chagrin. He hated his father worrying.
"Angel, Im fi-"
The vampire's eyes hardened with anger as he further inspected. The wood was thrown at such a force, it went clear through the jacket and punctured his son atleast three inches deep. The wound was beginning to heal already, though, and would hopefully be unnoticable by the time they got out of the city. Angel inwardly thanked whatever Power that gave his son quick-healing abilities. He grabbed the bloodied jacket with an angry huff and found his bag of newly bought clothes, noticing Gunn finally jump up, looking confused.
"Did we win?"
"Cmon, we're getting out of here. Connor, put this on." He pulled out a dark-blue long-sleeved t-shirt and handed it over as they all walked out, looking like a mess. The limo was thankfully still ahead of them in the parkinglot, lights still on.
"I have to get you...home. It isnt safe around here." Angel was beginning to think it wasnt safe anywhere he went. NorthNod had been all the way from France for crying out loud. Now he almost didnt want to ride with them to Connor's house. He couldnt leave Connor alone like that, but he also didnt want to lead whatever other revenge-seeking demons that were after him to his son's new home either. He sighed frustrated.
Connor heard the words, caught the sigh, and could practically hear his father's thoughts tumbling around in the vampire's head. His pride was once again bubbling foreward, hurt, and cheeks burned with shame. He was embarrassed to finally realize his father thought he couldnt handle himself- had even thought he was a hindrance in fighting. He could fight just as well as both of them, probably even better even though he knew he was a little rusty, but that too even proved his point. He was still good. And with more training and practice, he could become better, probably matching Illyria. And after that, beating her. He always knew he was a fast learner. And he always knew he was good at fighting. He looked to his father out of the corner of his eyes as they made their way across the dark empty parkinglot to the lone limo ahead. Angel was still shaking his head, thinking to himself. Gunn was behind them, carrying the bags, and swinging around his fighting pole like a bat still.
He had to make Angel see he could take care of himself. Before, Angel hadnt cared, had taken him out demon-hunting and vampire-staking and just plain trouping around the city looking for any kind of evil to take care of. And that was almost a year ago. Now, all of a sudden, everything was dfferent. He had proved himself with Sahjahn, had proved he wasnt just a weak human kid anymore, and he had all his memories intact, even the ones of Quor-Toth and all the horrors he faced there, which were way tougher than anything in L.A. they had faced so far. And he had come out alive. Alive from a hell dimention. Angel knew this. Angel had even left him on his own after he had practically tried to kill the man. Angel knew that also. Angel knew it all! So why now? Connor again looked over at his father curiously. Why was his father treating him differently now?
Connor stopped suddenly, eyes widening in realization. Was that why? Did his father think he couldnt fight anymore? Was that why he was being protected so strongly now and returned to those people? Connor looked at the vampire's back as his father continued to walk foreward. That must be it! Angel was now looking in terms of human. When he had returned from Quor-Toth, his father had seen him as that- a survivor and warrior of hell itself. But recently, he had been living somewhat...safely with humans and had lost his memories and had been weak and had bled.
That was it, Connor realized. His father saw him differently now, even though everything had pretty much gone back the way it was.
Angel didnt see him as something biologically impossible, a miracle child born from two vampires, the Destroyer of worlds, a warrior on the side of good.
Angel saw him as a human boy.
The vampire and Gunn turned around, looking curiously back at Connor. "Cmon, Connor. We have to get you...home. Its getting late."
"Yeah," Gunn piped up. "Im getting hungry." He turned to Angel. "Do you think we could stop somewhere-"
"-No." Angel looked back at his son again and frowned as he saw a strange look pass over the boy's features. "Connor?"
Connor bent low, instant fighting stance, mimicking the one he had first shown his father when he had jumped through the rift from Quor-Toth. Angel had somehow forgotten who Connor was. It was true, Connor didnt exactly feel completely like he used to, but Angel was seeing something else. He saw a normal human child, one that bled and laughed and cried and got scared, but mostly, one that couldnt fight. At all. Connor wouldnt be that. Maybe he was going to be, maybe he was meant to be, but he couldnt afford it, not if it meant not staying with his father. Not if it meant not being close to Angel.
He wanted to be with Angel.
Yes. Angel had somehow...forgot.
He almost grinned at Gunn and his father's shocked faces. Gunn had dropped the bags and Angel had tensed, face growing far more paler than possible. But Connor couldnt grin anymore. He shifted, noticing with satisfaction as Gunn shifted with him, but his father hadnt moved, face still shocked in disbelief.
Yes, Angel had definately forgotten. So...
He would just have to make him remember.
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(A/N): Major thanks 2 Halliwell's Little Angel! I LUV U!